Parent Information

Parent Information

We hope to provide you with helpful information regarding the special education services available to students enrolled in Sweetwater County School District #2. As always we encourage you to contact our office with any questions or concerns you might have and we will do our best to assist you.

Parents Guide to the IEP (Individualized Education Program)

What is an IEP?

An IEP is an individualized education program for children who receive special education or special services in the public school system. Each IEP must be written for one student and be a custom plan describing his or her educational goals, services provided, modifications to curriculum or classroom setting, and other specific information particular to his or her needs. Although the forms may vary from state to state each IEP must include certain requirements established in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Who needs an IEP?

Any child who receives special education or services in the public school system must have an IEP. There are several ways children are identified for special education. Parents or teachers may request an evaluation of any child that is suspected of having a disability; however, any evaluation must be done with parental consent. An evaluation must be completed within a reasonable amount of time after consent is given. Children are also identified through the “Child Find” system. The state is responsible for identifying children with special needs and conducts “Child Find” activities to find children who need evaluation for a possible IEP. Any time a child is evaluated by an IEP team there must be parental consent.

IEP Basics

Evaluation:

The first step of the IEP is the evaluation. All children (who are suspected to have a disability) will first have an evaluation to assess their current levels and to determine eligibility for special education services. The evaluation will also provide information towards goals and services necessary for them to be successful in the least restrictive environment. The evaluation results will serve as a guide for writing the IEP and determining what services the child needs. After the evaluation is completed (within 60 calendar days from the parent’s consent to evaluate), the IEP team will review the evaluation and determine whether or not the child qualifies as a “child with a disability”. If the parents disagree with the decision they have the right to receive an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). Once it is determined that the child qualifies as having a disability, the IEP will be written. The IEP team must meet to write the IEP within thirty calendar days of establishing disability.

IEP Meeting:

Who is involved in the IEP meeting? The IDEA requires that certain people are involved in the IEP meeting. These people include parent/s, at least one of the student’s special education teachers, at least one of the student’s regular education teachers, an individual representing the school system or educational agency, a member who can interpret the evaluation results, the student if appropriate, and any other personnel who have expertise related to the child’s needs.

When the IEP meeting is schedule the school system must provide notice to the parents and other participants. The parents must be given early enough notice to be able to attend the meeting or make other arrangements. The meeting must be scheduled at a time and place that is agreed upon with the parents and the school. Moreover, the parents should be informed of who will be attending the IEP meeting.

Writing the IEP:

The IEP will serve as a plan for the child’s educational goals and include certain details including how the child is currently performing at school, specific goals for the child that can be measured, any special education or services, any modifications that will be made for state or district wide tests, the dates and locations of services to be provided, as well as a statement explaining how progress will be determined. The IEP will also include any other specific details that apply to the child and his or her particular needs. At 16, a statement of transition services must be written to describe how the school will prepare the child to move from school into adult life.

What happens after the IEP is written: Parents will receive a copy of the IEP for them to review. Any teachers or providers that will be working with your child will have access to his or her IEP. Services will begin after the IEP is written. Parents will be informed regularly (at least as frequently as non-disabled children) of their child’s progress. Parents will receive reports of how their child is doing and if he/she will be able to reach their IEP goals by the end of the school year. The child’s IEP will be reviewed at least once a year. If changes need to be made, the IEP will be revised.

Local Resources:

Services for Children Birth through Age Five

The Sweetwater County Child Developmental Center (SCCDC) is a non-profit organization that has served the children and families in Sweetwater County since 1979. The center is mandated by the state of Wyoming to provide early intervention services to children birth through age five with a variety of delays and disabilities. The SCCDC is the only organization in Sweetwater County to serve the children birth through age five.

The SCCDC consists of highly trained and qualified staff:

Speech/Language Pathologists

Occupational Therapists

Physical Therapists

Early Childhood Special Education Teachers

Early Childhood Teachers

Paraprofessionals

Educational Assistants

Licensed Mental Health Specialist

Play Therapist

Classroom Teachers

Support Staff

Data Managers

Administrative Staff

Contact Information: Green River Center

Phone: 307-872-3290; Fax: 307-872-3293

Support for Parents

The Parent Information Center (PIC) representatives are Jennifer Petri and Tammi Wilson. They work with our office to assist parents throughout the special education process. They are able to answer many questions regarding the special education process, resources available to parents, and/or assist parents at Special Education meetings. They can be contacted at: 875-1929 or Toll Free: 1-866-875-9318 or jpetri@wpic.org.

The Uplift representative is Becky Lancaster. She is a Family Outreach Specialist with Uplift. Becky also works with our office in assisting parents with questions or concerns they might have. Becky is also able to answer questions regarding the special education process, resources available to parents, and/or assist parents at Special Education meetings. Becky can be contacted at:307-857-6601 or blancaster@upliftwy.org.

Workforce and Vocational Services

The Department of Workforce Services is committed to helping people with disabilities establish and reach vocational goals that help them become productive working citizens. During any given year, the Department of Workforce Services' Vocational Rehabilitation Program actively works with more than 4,000 of Wyoming’s' citizens with disabilities, and, on average, approximately 700 of those citizens successfully complete a rehabilitation program and enter the workforce. For every dollar spent on Vocational Rehabilitation services, a consumer earns, on average, $11 in increased taxable income.

The Department of Workforce Services' Vocational Rehabilitation Division can provide only those services which are necessary for eligible individuals to reach the employment goal agreed to in the Individualized Plan for Employment. These services may include, but are not limited to:

Eligibility Assessment

Counseling and Guidance

Referral Services

Job Search and Placement Assistance

Job Retention and Career Follow-Up

Vocational and Other Training Services

Facilitation of diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental impairments

Transportation Services

Personal Assistance Services

Deaf & Blind Interpretive Services

Rehabilitation Teaching Services

Occupational Licenses, Tools and Equipment

Self-Employment Opportunities

Rehabilitation Technology Services

Transition Services (from school-to-work)

Supported Employment Services

The criteria for determining eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation Services are as follows:

The individual has a physical or mental impairment

The impairment constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment

The individual shall be presumed to be able to benefit in terms of an employment outcome from the provision of VR services unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the applicant is incapable of benefiting in terms of an employment outcome from VR services